Chronic respiratory diseases

Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) affect the airways and other structures of the lungs altering how one can breathe. Preventable CRDs include asthma and respiratory allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), occupational lung diseases, cancer, sleep apnoea and pulmonary hypertension.

The symptoms of COPD include breathlessness, abnormal amounts of mucus in the airways, and a chronic cough. Daily activities—such as walking or exercising—can become very difficult as the condition gradually worsens. The primary cause of COPD is tobacco smoke.

With asthma, there is inflammation that narrows the airways that carry oxygen to the lungs. This results in asthma symptoms, including coughing, wheezing and chest tightness. Asthma is increasing throughout the African Region, especially among children. Individuals who have schistosomiasis and sickle cell disease have an elevated risk of pulmonary hypertension, or high blood pressure within the lungs. 

The major risk factors for chronic respiratory diseases include tobacco smoke and other forms of indoor air pollution, allergens, household chemicals and outdoor pollution. There is strong evidence associating CRDs with living near roads with heavy traffic. Vehicles such as diesel-fuelled buses and Kombi vans are major sources of pollution in the Region.